Longware Bong Pitons
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- Comparing a 4 inch aluminum Chouinard bong and the big 6 inch LONGware bong.
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- A 5 inch and 6 inch LONGware bong.
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- The LONGware stamp
I acquired these massive LONGware bongs from Harvey T. Carter in the early 1990s right before my first trip to his beloved Fisher Towers. I was young and relatively inexperienced but had high hopes and even higher ambitions. Harvey took the time to encourage me and try to prepare me for those amazing towers.
I listened to Harvey’s stories and tried hard to imagine climbing anywhere that might require these old LONGware monsters. I took it all in. I was still not prepared for what awaited me on those dirty walls.
These actual pitons were used on the first ascent of the Sundevil Chimney and Scheherazade on the Titan. Harvey wasn’t sure if he had them for the first ascent of West Side Story on Cottentail Tower but he did use them on a direct start he established for that route in the early 1970s.
On many trips and routes in the Fishers and Mystery Towers I am glad to say I wasn’t even tempted to hammer one of these big mothers in. Thank goodness for big fat cams (even in mud!).